Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality from Vending Machines

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to assess the quality of drinking water from vending machines in order to obtain useful information for establishing a certain specific quality standard of drinking water from vending machine. It was conducted as a cross-sectional study during January-September 2012. Two thousand and twenty five drinking water samples from vending machines nationwide were collected and analyzed. It was found that 790 (39.0%) of water vending machine were installed in unhygienic sur-roundings and only 29 water vending machines (1.4%) showed complete labeling conforming to the Announcement No. 31 (B.E.2553) of the Commission on Labels. The analytical results showed that 761 (37.6%) of water samples failed to meet the standard. For chemical analysis, 487(24.0%) of samples failed due to pH, total hardness, and total solids presenting, 350 (17.3%), 176 (8.7%) and 57 (2.8%) samples respectively. For microbiological data, 323 (15.9%) of sample failed due to Coliforms, E.coli and bacteria causing food poisoning presenting, 260 (12.8%), 56 (2.7%) and 41 (2.0%) samples respectively. Data from the safety survey of 1,399 vending machines revealed 302 of them with algae growth in dispensing chamber,120 without dispensing-chamber door, and 975 with replacement of water filter. From 980 questionnaires, 105 machines were found to have working time over 2 years. The data and survey results were subsequently proposed to the Food and Drug Administration in order to establish a certain specific quality standard of drinking water from vending machine. As a result, a notification of the Ministry of Public Health No.362 (B.E. 2556) focusing on quality of the drinking water from automatic machine was launched in 2013 with was effective on 16 October 2014. According to this law, munici-palities which are local governments, by authority of the Public Health Act (B.E. 2535), can issue ordinance of regulating operation of drinking water vending machines in order to make people consume clean and safe drinking water in accordance with the National Health Statute No 2 (B.E. 2559) that requires the State to provide safe drinking water for the people.